Voter Guide 2000

City Council, Mayoral Candidates in Orange County

* Background: President since 1998, West Garden Grove Residents' Assn.; community activism against sewer and trash fee increases and in support of sound wall along Garden Grove Freeway; pursued negotiations for 1998 agreement with Rossier School for special-needs children, in residential area; worked with Police Department on speeding and parking problems; coaches youth soccer

* Issues: Wants to stop overbuilding on certain lots, giving tax revenue and other money to hotel developers; wants more revenue to go into the general fund, not redevelopment agency; wants to eliminate eminent domain, which declares areas blighted, and against making residents relocate in other ways to make room for commercial development; wants to ensure that emergency response times are within five minutes; increase the police force; televise entire City Council meetings

* Issues: Wants to increase the number of City Council seats from five to seven or more to prevent developers from unduly influencing council majority; wants to change some council seats to residents' seats on redevelopment agency; wants to make past actions of that agency clearer to public, including where certain funds came from and how much will be used on what; against Measure P; wants to develop some creative tourist food attractions to highlight the city's international diversity

* Issues: Use extra revenue to fund and support Police Department to prioritize public safety; protect neighborhoods along Garden Grove Freeway; supports new hotels on Harbor Boulevard; more residential construction and other developments, such as education center, at Euclid Street and Garden Grove Boulevard, to revitalize city

Francis "Frank" Nicklus

* Age: 65

* Occupation: Retired city employee

* Background: Started working for city in 1970 as building/zoning specialist, in 1980, senior building inspector, in 1987 a supervisor; retired from Navy Seabees after 43 years; board president, Golden West Cities Federal Credit Union; member, Garden Grove Elks Lodge and Lions Club; volunteers at Long Beach Veterans Hospital and for local charities, including Boys & Girls Club, Braille Institute and Acacia Adult Day Services

* Background: Helped create security policies as noncommissioned intelligence officer in Army; in South Korea, worked with local citizens and police to strengthen security of military installations and surrounding communities; member, American Legion and Military Intelligence Core Assn.

* Issues: Increase public safety by hiring more police officers; emphasize responsible fiscal spending; supports redirected redevelopment by encouraging more high-tech and e-commerce companies to be built in the city; wants to create more higher-paying jobs in city; promote business growth while preserving the city's heritage and history; leaning toward Measure P

Jason R. Edwards

* Age: 21

* Occupation: Cal State Fullerton student

* Background: Graduating this year in music education; studying physics and math; Boy and Eagle Scouts

* Issues: Wants council members to be better prepared during public hearings by surveying sites they're voting on instead of relying on staff reports; take better care of city employees; restore Police Department's budget and number of officers; wants entire City Council meeting televised; post City Council agendas a week before meetings